Mammoth bones unearthed on Oregon State football field

Associated Press

Published 11:09 am, Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Photo: Theresa Hogue

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In this Jan. 26, 2016 photo provided by Oregon State University, Woodburn High School science teacher Dave Ellingson holds part of the pelvis of a mammoth found at an OSU construction site by a football field in Corvallis, Ore. Crews working on an expansion around Reser Stadium found a femur from one of the ancient elephants and bones from a bison and camel, all dating back 10,000 years. A spokesman says the OSU archaeologist believes the 10-foot pit where the remains were found could have been a pond or watering hole. (Theresa Hogue/Oregon State University via AP) less

In this Jan. 26, 2016 photo provided by Oregon State University, Woodburn High School science teacher Dave Ellingson holds part of the pelvis of a mammoth found at an OSU construction site by a football field ... more

Photo: Theresa Hogue

Mammoth bones unearthed on Oregon State football field

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Construction workers have unearthed the bones of a mammoth and other ice age mammals on the Oregon State University football field.

The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/1SaJU3Z) crews working on an expansion around Reser Stadium found a femur from one of the ancient elephants and bones from a bison and camel, all dating back 10,000 years.

A spokesman says the OSU archaeologist believes the 10-foot pit where the remains were found could have been a pond or watering hole.

OSU associate professor of anthropology Loren Davis says sick animals often went to a body of water to die.

Davis says the find isn’t unusual since thousands of mammoths and other long-gone creatures once roamed the surrounding Willamette Valley.

Construction work has been moved elsewhere while experts examine the bones.